NKyTribune staff
The Work Ready Skills Advisory Committee, formed to select projects for the Commonwealth’s new $100 million workforce bond program, will invite 91 local applicants, including Boone and Kenton County schools to submit comprehensive proposals for funding consideration.
Meeting for the first time Wednesday in Frankfort, the 10-member committee reviewed 114 pre-applications, totaling nearly $540 million in requests.
Boone County Schools was invited to submit a full application for $10 million and the Boone County Area Technology Center was asked to submit a proposal for $810,000. Kenton County Schools was invited to submit a full application for $7.48 million.
Northern Kentucky University was invited to submit a full application for two projects totaling more than $9 million. The Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky was asked to submit a proposal for $3.28 million.
The Brighton Center ($298,964) and Freestore Foodbank ($342,000) were also invited to submit full applications.
Announced by Governor Matt Bevin, Education and Workforce Development Cabinet Secretary Hal Heiner, and Cabinet for Economic Development Acting Secretary Erik Dunnigan in July, the Kentucky Work Ready Skills Initiative is aimed at developing a highly trained, modernized workforce to meet the needs of employers and promote sustainable incomes for Kentuckians.
“We hear from employers daily who are struggling to find skilled labor to fill good paying jobs that are available today,” said Sec. Heiner, who chairs the new committee. “This initiative empowers private sector companies, secondary schools, and postsecondary institutions to partner to craft community-specific solutions.”
Individual project funding requests range from $40,000 – $28 million, with proposals from all 10 state workforce areas and all five Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (KWIB) industry sectors — manufacturing, healthcare, technology, transportation, and construction/trades.
In addition to Sec. Heiner, the committee is comprised of: Brooken Smith (designee of Labor Cabinet Secretary Derrick Ramsey); Josh Benton (designee of Cabinet for Economic Development Acting Secretary Erik Dunnigan); Hugh Haydon (KWIB chairman); Vik Chadha, Kathy Gornik, Shad Sletto, and Kristel Smith (appointees of Gov. Bevin); Bob Mitchell (appointee of Senate President Robert Stivers); and Mike Bowling (appointee of House Speaker Greg Stumbo).
All 114 pre-applicants will be sent written notification next week. Those invited to submit a full proposal will receive scoring criteria and detailed application instructions.
Full applications will be due to the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet by Oct. 19, and the Work Ready Skills Advisory Committee plans to reconvene in November to determine finalists. Officials anticipate that first-round funding announcements will be made by the end of 2016.
“We appreciate the collaboration and planning that went into each of these project proposals,” said Sec. Heiner. “Communities not invited for consideration in this initial round will have the opportunity to apply again in early 2017.”
Details about the Work Ready Skills Initiative are available at www.KentuckyWorkReady.com.